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November/December 2009
 
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Six Hitmakers coming to HRTS 12/16/09
Legend
From the Executive Director
Bumbles bounce! (and other random holiday musings…)
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Debbee Klein
Kelly Goode
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Vin Scully video and pics posted
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HRTS Member Spotlight - Tom Tenowich
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HRTS Season Partners
  
The Lippin Group



The Hitmakers Luncheon
The next HRTS Newsmaker Luncheon will feature the creators of some of the hottest shows on television today. Peter Tolan, Rescue Me, returns to host, The Hitmakers.

Wed, Dec. 16th
11:30am - 2:00pm
The Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel 

Click here for more info and to purchase tickets


Would free morning educational sessions focusing on New Media be beneficial to you?
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Society Views is distributed electronically every month to the entire HRTS membership.  Get your message in front of key leaders in the entertainment business.  To advertise in Society Views:
Call (818) 789-1182 or email info@hrts.org
  

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Legend
Vin Scully visits the HRTS


by Chris Davison, chris@lthmedia.com 
In 1950, television was an upstart invention, Truman was president and no one had yet heard of “I Love Lucy” but some lucky Brooklyn Dodgers fans heard Vin Scully broadcast his first game.

Vin Scully has been the voice of the Dodgers for the past six decades, the longest of any broadcaster in the history of professional sports, and on November 10th the HRTS was privileged to welcome a true broadcasting legend to the Newsmaker Luncheon series. Consider that in addition to being in his 60th year with the Dodgers, Vin was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982, he received an Emmy for lifetime achievement in 1996 and he has a star on the Walk of Fame.

Academy Award nominee Ron Shelton (“Bull Durham”) introduced Vin Scully, saying that “he is a storyteller, like all great broadcasters”. Vin took the podium to a standing ovation and regaled the audience with humorous tales of Vladimir Putin, Jackie Robinson and Queen Victoria, adding that “words are jewels but they can also be bullets”.

Commenting on the differences between radio and television, Vin said that on radio a broadcaster can get away with more… within reason. He told the story of Bill Stern and Clem McCarthy. Stern was calling a big football game and right at the end of the game the halfback broke loose and this was going to be the game-winning touchdown. Stern called “Brown is to the 25, Brown is to the 20…” but the spotter pointed and told him “it’s not Brown, it’s Smith!” so Stern continued “Brown is to the 15… and he laterals to Smith, who goes to the 10 and scores!” Not long after, McCarthy was calling the Preakness and he called the wrong horse the winner. All across the country, bets were cashed in, money exchanged on the basis of an incorrect call. McCarthy soon traveled to New York and a cabbie asked him why he called the wrong horse and without missing a beat McCarthy replied “because you can’t lateral a horse”.

After a short while, Ron Shelton came back on-stage and sat with Vin for a Q&A. Addressing the craft of broadcasting, Shelton inquired about instant replay and Vin said that he likes instant replay, except for balls and strikes. One of the goals of a live broadcaster being to impart enthusiasm to listeners, to help them experience the game, Shelton pointed out that over the course of six decades there have been seasons where the Dodgers did very well and others where they’ve done not quite so well. Shelton then asked Vin how he generates enthusiasm during less-than-stellar seasons and Vin said the roar of the crowd always triggers something in him, something that he shares with his listening audience.

As a broadcaster, how do you deal with controversial issues? Vin answered that his obligation is to tell the fans what’s going on with the game. Insofar as far as the hot-button issues such as steroids, ownership controversy, etc, are concerned, he has nothing to do with that. Vin Scully has influenced generations of sportscasters, so Shelton asked him who had been among his early influences and Vin said Ted Husing, Bill Stern and Mel Allen were some of the many he’d learned from, going on to add that he had four years with Red Barber and that “maybe I was the son he never had”.

In 1950, Vin began his broadcasting career and in 2009, a poll was taken of the top 500 sportswriters and broadcasters in the country and Vin Scully was voted the greatest sportscaster of all time.

 
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HRTS Since 1947 the HRTS has been the entertainment industry’s premiere information and networking forum. HRTS events are the only place where leading executives from across the industry gather under one roof, multiple times a year to discuss issues relevant to the ongoing success of our business. HRTS Members and our industry partners represent the best and the brightest in town. Is your company ready to join the ranks of HRTS? There are many ways for individuals and companies to get more involved. To find out how, call (818) 789-1182 or email info@hrts.org

 


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